Who told him to become the Pirate King!

Chapter 4: The Imprisoned Navy!

Aokiji really liked this oath: "Dark blade, guardian of justice."

He deliberately took out paper and pen from his desk drawer and began to transcribe.

The rustling sound continued to echo in the general's office.

During this interval.

Storm stared at the Clay Fruit in his hand.

Several lines of text that only he could see emerged from the void.

【Name: Clay Fruit】

Star Rating: None

[Description: Paramecia-type Devil Fruit]

[Effect: The user can turn any part of their body into clay, and can also create clay from nothing.]

Note: Devil Fruits symbolize unnatural evolutionary paths, and those who eat them will be cursed by the natural ocean.

[Comment: I'm playing in the mud by the sea]

The specific effects of the Clay Fruit were not unexpected by Storm.

This is indeed a "special Paramecia-type" Devil Fruit.

Just like Charlotte Katakuri's "Mochi Mochi Fruit".

It's not a nature-based system, but it's better than a nature-based system.

"Now, [Clay-Clay Fruit], lend me your power!"

Storm secretly used the Devil Ring to absorb and seal the supernatural elements contained in the Clay Fruit.

This process happened silently.

A Devil Fruit that was still perfectly intact on the outside lost its extraordinary power.

Through the Grand Prix Cup, Storm can continue to observe the specific information about the current Clay Fruit.

【Name: Clay-Clay Fruit Without Power】

Star Rating: None

[Description: A bizarre-looking, disgusting-tasting devil fruit]

[Result: Aside from being awful, it's nothing special.]

[Comment: Eat shit!]

"The side effects are all gone; it's completely become an empty shell..."

Storm holds up the Clay Fruit.

Although he did not eat this special Paramecia-type Devil Fruit.

But at this moment, he could still clearly feel that he had suddenly gained a new kind of power.

It was as if all it took was a single thought from him.

You can create some soft, white clay on the spot...

Just as Storm was carefully sensing this strange and novel supernatural power.

Aokiji finally finished copying the oath.

He looked up and saw that Storm was still holding the Clay Fruit.

"Storm, eat up."

Aokiji's words brought Storm back to his attention.

"what?"

Aokiji looked at the somewhat dazed Storm and raised his voice slightly.

"Storm, eat up!"

Storm realized that Aokiji was gesturing for him to eat the now-useless Clay Fruit.

He originally wanted to continue observing whether the Clay Fruit, having lost its power, would undergo any special changes in the future.

But for now, let's eat!

Storm lifted the strangely shaped [Powerless Clay Fruit] and took a big bite.

In an instant.

An indescribable feeling of nausea spread from his mouth to every nerve cell in his body.

This is absolutely tasteless—no!

It tastes like chewing "rubber"!

Could it be that all Devil Fruits were created by the Sun God's hand?

Storm found joy amidst his suffering.

He devoured the Clay Fruit in just a few bites, leaving not a single piece of peel behind.

Looking at the other's ashen expression, Aokiji seemed to recall the scene when he ate the Ice-Ice Fruit.

"Ara la la".

Aokiji chuckled softly.

"I will never forget the taste of the Devil Fruit."

"Want to test your abilities, Storm?"

"certainly!"

Storm readily accepted the suggestion—or rather, he had been waiting for it for a long time!

A lump of white clay appeared out of thin air in his palm, and then began to take on even more shapes and forms.

From the head, to the torso, to the tail, and those flat, broad wings...

Aokiji observed the plump, white clay creature in Storm's palm with great interest.

"Is this a penguin? Actually, I really like penguins too."

"penguin?"

Storm's lips twitched, nearly being "awakened from his slumber".

"That's a dragon!"

Vongola Storm, also known as Stormborn, dreams of raising a giant dragon.

For now.

Storm can't raise dragons yet.

It's no problem to hand-roll a clay white dragon.

Although this little white dragon was a bit small, with a round belly, and you couldn't see any dragon scales or horns...

But no matter what, it shouldn't be mistaken for a penguin, right?

Feeling mocked so closely, Storm harbored malicious thoughts.

Under his control, the small white dragon, about the size of a fist, slowly transformed into a chubby little chicken.

Do not!

This is not a fat chicken.

This is a "Tu" pheasant, a "Bai" pheasant, and an "Bing" pheasant.

Anyway, it's not "Aokiji".

"Cough cough."

Aokiji glanced at the little fat chicken that might be implying something, and coughed lightly.

Storm knew when to quit while he was ahead.

He clapped his hands, and the "little green pheasant" transformed into the "little Bian Que," before disappearing again.

"Sir! I'm willing to accept the undercover mission!"

Storm straightened his back and offered his advice.

"What I need to do now is become a pirate."

"So, I'm just going to defect from headquarters? My crime? 'Stealing a Devil Fruit'?"

No, why are you so enthusiastic?

Aokiji's eyes widened slightly.

And why do you speak of "defection" so fluently?

"No! There's no rush!"

Aokiji quickly called for a stop, trying to dissuade Storm from his dangerous idea.

The Navy Headquarters established a sharp-edged force, carefully selecting promising young men with impeccable backgrounds, and even offering them the precious Devil Fruits.

We're not sending them straight to their deaths in the New World!

In Aokiji's view.

With Storm's current strength, going to the New World, the latter half of the Grand Line, would be suicide!

"You've only just eaten the Clay-Clay Fruit, and its power hasn't been fully developed yet."

Aokiji reassured him.

"Your current mission is to remain in the Navy and enhance your capabilities."

"Furthermore, it would take a suitable time for the Navy to degenerate into pirates."

"In short, everything is proceeding as planned."

Aokiji's "following the steps"

The idea was to make Storm temporarily ignore the fact that he had joined the Blade Force.

He only saw himself as an ordinary naval soldier who had just graduated from basic training.

For this reason, Aokiji even asked a specific question.

"Stromb, do you want to stay at headquarters, go to the G-Series branch, or perhaps the Four Seas?"

There are essentially only these three "career paths" for naval soldiers.

Storm was aware of this as well.

His original plan was to go to an ordinary branch of one of the four major overseas branches.

The Naval Headquarters is a super elite group within the Navy.

The Navy Headquarters and the Outer Sea Branch are about three levels apart in terms of strength.

Storm could have become a "Naval Headquarters Lieutenant".

This means that once he chooses to go to the Shihai branch, he will immediately become a naval officer of the "field officer" rank.

In the Four Seas Branch, the naval colonel is almost the highest-ranking person in charge of the branch, possessing the greatest power over the branch base.

In three words: local tyrant.

Once Storm went to the Four Seas branch.

Not only can they obtain the maximum degree of autonomy.

It also facilitates the subsequent "money-making scheme"—a scheme to make money by purchasing a Devil Fruit.

But this was already part of the original plan.

Storm has now changed his mind!

"Sir! I request permission to go to Impel Down!"

The Grand Prize Cup requires fierce competition to win.

Storm needs as many opponents as possible to improve his overall strength.

His current identity is that of a Marine, so the most suitable opponent is, of course, a pirate.

Looking at the entire ocean.

Regarding the two key indicators of the number and quality of pirates.

Nowhere can compare to Impel Down!

Even the New World, the base of the Emperor Pirates, is no good!

The prison is a stage for action; come if there's work to be done.

Impel Down?

Aokiji frowned; he had never considered this answer before.

Why do you want to go here?

"Because the number of pirates in Impel Down is like a swarm of locusts."

Storm replied in a very serious tone.

"I want to observe as many pirates as possible up close to prepare for future undercover plans."

"In addition, Impel Down is 'boring' enough, making it suitable for focused training and improving one's strength."

Aokiji nodded slightly upon hearing this.

He disagreed with the first part of Storm's statement.

However, the second half of the sentence does make some sense.

Impel Down is located in the Calm Belt, making it extremely difficult to enter or leave.

The prison guards who worked in the city didn't have many leisure or entertainment options on a daily basis.

If we ignore the special nature of Impel Down.

This is indeed a good place to improve one's skills.

only.

A thought suddenly flashed through Aokiji's mind.

A prison.

And it's the world's number one prison.

Is there really a big difference between jailers and prisoners?

"Although the Navy and Impel Down are both government agencies, they are not part of the same system."

Aokiji pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"It will take time to transfer you to Impel Down."

"At least three days, and at the latest, no more than a week."

"Yes, sir!"

Storm gave a military salute and responded loudly.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Aokiji suddenly thought of something.

"Besides you, another member of this year's recruit training camp received a recommendation to join the Sharp Blade Force."

A suspect had already formed in Storm's mind.

Before he could ask, Aokiji told him the answer.

"She is Grandma Crane's granddaughter, Peacock."

It really was that woman!

Storm gritted his teeth inwardly.

He knew how Zephyr knew about his private comments about the Celestial Dragons.

It turns out there was a little bird secretly tattling on us.

I should have known better than to count stars and watch the moon with that woman, Peacock, that night!

孽 孽!

Aokiji was about to say something, probably something like telling Storm and Peacock to get along well.

But just then...

There was a loud "boom".

The door to the general's office was violently kicked open from the outside.

Storm hadn't even seen the figure clearly yet.

A loud roar then rang out in the general's office.

"asshole!"

Storm stared intently.

A gray-haired old man grabbed Qingzhi by the collar with one hand and started spraying him with profanities.

"My grandson says he wants to 'become a pirate' again! I absolutely will not allow that!"

That style, that tone, that appearance.

Storm immediately recognized the other person's identity.

Isn't this the famous Garp, the Cannon Garp?

Um, Vice Admiral Garp, could you perform that again?

That's the one.

"Stop me like this, Sengoku! Otherwise, I'll kill Sakazuki!"

A little drama was playing out in Storm's mind, while outwardly he remained outwardly focused on his own thoughts.

Aokiji frowned, his face glistening with what looked like sweat or saliva.

"I've heard that hundreds of times!"

Aokiji responded with considerable annoyance.

"Who cares about your grandson anyway!"

Between words, Aokiji waved to Storm.

The latter understood immediately and left the general's office without saying a word.

The "argument" between Aokiji and Garp continues.

But Storm has already moved away from the "battlefield".

This year is the 1518th year of the Haiyuan calendar.

"The grandson of Portgas D. Ace that Garp mentioned who's going to become a pirate must be Portgas D. Ace!"

As Storm walked down the top-floor corridor of the headquarters building, his mind was filled with a multitude of thoughts.

"One year until the Burnt Man sets sail."

"Four years until the sun god sets sail."

The departure of the old era, the alternation of old and new orders, the awakening of the sun god, and the great war that split the sea in two...

"Time is of the essence!"

(End of this chapter)